Any home protection company which has issued and in force, prior to January 1, 1979, any contracts for home protection exempt from the provisions of this part pursuant to Section 12741, shall carry a portion of the fee received for such contracts in the reserve contemplated by Section 985, as though such fees were premiums subject to the provisions of that section, and such sums shall be deemed equivalent to premiums for purposes of that section but shall not be considered premiums for the purposes of Section 12202 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.